EU officials on August 20 again firmly rejected Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's claim that Western countries were behind recent protests against his government's lithium mining plans.
"The European Union absolutely rejects any allegations that it would be involved in any kind of illegal or illegitimate activities linked to foreign interference. This is not what the European Union is doing," Peter Stano, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said at a European Commission news briefing.
The protests oppose a lithium mining project set to be launched by the Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto in Jadar in western Serbia over fears that it will pollute water and land resources in a country that already suffers from significant environmental degradation, a legacy of communist rule.
The protests took place after the European Union and the Serbian government last month signed a memorandum of understanding on a "strategic partnership" on sustainable raw materials, battery supply chains, and electric vehicles.
SEE ALSO: Germany's Scholz Praises Lithium-Mining Deal With Serbia, Says Environment Will Be ProtectedThe mining of lithium is necessary for Europe "to remain sovereign in a changing world and not be dependent on others," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on July 19 as he attended a Critical Raw Materials Summit in Belgrade, where the memorandum was signed.
Germany is seeking to secure lithium for the manufacture of electric vehicles as the EU aims to reduce its dependence on imports from China of the critical substance, which is used in batteries for electric vehicles.
Ana Pisonero, EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi's spokeswoman, stressed on August 20 that the EU “remains fully committed to developing -- jointly with Serbia and stakeholders -- concrete actions to put into practice the strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains, and electric vehicles.”
Stano and Pisonero, who joined the press briefing via video link, made the comments in response to a question about Vucic’s unsubstantiated accusation that recent demonstrations in opposition to the multibillion-dollar lithium-mining project were part of Western-backed "hybrid" warfare against his government.
SEE ALSO: Protests Flare Up In Serbian Towns Over Reversal On Huge Lithium MineMoscow has also accused the West of being behind the protests, which demand a halt to Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto's $2.4 billion lithium project in Jadar in western Serbia over fears it could pollute nearby land and water.
The project has the capacity to supply 90 percent of Europe's current lithium needs and make Rio Tinto one of the world's leading lithium producers. It could also play a critical role in Western electric vehicle supply chains as Washington and Brussels seek to reduce dependency on rival China.